This is going to sound cranky, but it's not intended to. I'd like to hear more about the *why* rather than the what.

I want to ask "What's this in aid of?" ... what needs are not being
served by the current system?

Why so many levels? Do we need to differentiate past "Saint" ? If we really
must differentiate, shouldn't we be differentiating along
different dimensions? (if we really must, why don't we just add honorifics, maybe?)

Actually, maybe this is the best idea yet. Forget defined level past Saint. But as certain milestones past what is needed for Saint the monk gets to add a honorific of their own choosing on to their title. Fun play, no actual power effects (more votes, etc).

Beccause it's natural to see higly skilled people to be in (always) higher level.

Beccause soon some levels will become overcrowded.

But my favourite reason is why not ?

As someone said on the CB (Jeffa?)it won't take anything to our beloved saints
on the contrary those new level are mainly for them to enable them to stay 'on the top'...
In fact, IMHO, I don't see any drawback to this new system.
(Except, may be, for changing things, which isn't so bad for me).

UPDATE : I didn't make it clear in this post (but see my other post below) but the honorific titles are ok, for me.
new levels or new honorific title or whatever the form the idea is good !

What I'm seeing is the claim that there's "saint
inflation." That's worth considering. But there are other ways
to differentiate; once you hit monk or so, you know that among those with
a lot of XP are folks
here who really know what they're talking about (I shan't name names,
because, well, you're in the group of people who know the difference!), and others who got there simply by
being around a lot (I'll give you one name for that category).

Maybe I'm taking the "Monk" motif too seriously here. But the point is, you reach the stage of enlightenment, and
you're not supposed to care any more. The Joneses become invisible, rather than
something up with which to keep.

Update it's in the same thread, so you're probably looking at it, but let me say turnstep is saying clearly the things I've been
fumbling.

Yes, the XP system is fun, beccause it always pleasant to see your reputation becoming better and better (Reputation is supposed to be what others think about you afterall).
Those new levels make new steps, new milestones in our quest of knowledge.
But it's not a goal in itself.

But if things go on like that,
one day I'll be abbot, then bishop,
then pontiff maybe even Saint (who knows).
Even with my poor knowledge (that I'm trying to improve!) I'll do it.
The problem is : I can't imagine being in the same level of merlyn,tilly,...
(I won't say the litany of the saints but I respect them all ;-)
worse: I can't imagine a community with 4000 saints. (It would make no sense.)
It's only a question of respect for our saints.

Call them new levels, call them honorific titles or whatever, for me it's the same thing:
It's the way to keep our skillfull saints above.